Chelsea remain interested in Bayern Munich wonderkid Mathys Tel, who now wants to leave the Allianz Arena before next week's transfer deadline.

The Blues have been interested in Tel for a while now, making a firm enquiry in the 2024 summer transfer window, football.london understands, and came back to the table earlier this month to express their desire to sign the winger. Sources confirmed at the time that Chelsea would not hesitate to make an official offer for the 19-year-old should they receive any form of encouragement from the Bundesliga leaders that he would be available for a move in this window.

Tel made a surprise start on Wednesday evening in Bayern's 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the German club's final game of the Champions League league phase. The Frenchman lasted 62 minutes before Vincent Kompany, who had not used him from the bench in the three games prior, decided to take him off in Munich.

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Bayern's director of sport Max Eberl confirmed after the game what had been reported in the 24 hours prior - that Tel wants to part ways with the Bavarian outfit. "We spoke in December, and Mathys said he wanted to assert himself," Eberl said after Bayern's win on Wednesday. "Now he has said he would like to leave. Now we have to consider whether we will do it and what we will do."

Tel has been a bit-part player under Kompany since the Belgian was appointed as Bayern manager last summer - a big part of the reason why he wants to leave the club before next week's deadline. After signing a new long-term contract in Munich just under 12 months ago, this season has not gone to plan for the teenager on a personal level. He has made just 14 appearances in all competitions; with only four of them being starts and a total of 458 minutes to his name.

The French winger's impact from the bench has been impressive nevertheless - continuing to earn the 'super-sub' description; although he has struggled to have the same effect as he did last season. In the 2023/24 campaign, Tel scored six - out of his 10 in total - goals from the bench for Bayern, earning him plenty of praise from Harry Kane, as well as former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel, who worked with the Frenchman when in the dugout at the Allianz.

Kane said: "He's started the season really well. I like the way he trains. He's always pushing himself and is fully committed. Every time he came in he made a difference and is very confident. We will need all the players."

Tuchel added: "Mathys has a high impact off the bench. He is a weapon for us at the moment, we know what he can give us. He will also start games this season.

"He is currently showing that he can assist and score goals. We're taking it step by step with him. He's on the right track. We're happy that he's here and he's happy about it too."

Tel's desire to leave, while in itself is a positive for Chelsea, has actually seen a flurry of clubs join the race to sign the winger. Reports claim Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United have now joined the Blues in their interest in the Frenchman.

Chelsea and Bayern have been in talks for large chunks of the month over deals for Tel and Christopher Nkunku potentially swapping Stamford Bridge for the Allianz Arena. The German club registered their interest in Nkunku earlier in the month but any move for the France international could well be dependent on Tel heading the other way.